Friday, June 17, 2016

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has awarded Fulton County Arts & Culture the 2016 Arts and Historic Preservation Achievement Award for the Fulton County Teen Artists Academy.

The NACo Achievement Award, in the category of Arts and Historic Preservation, recognizes outstanding county efforts in using arts and cultural activities to enhance the quality of life, and the social needs of the community. The Fulton County Teen Artists Academy is an intensive summer arts program for young people ages 13 to18. Students receive instruction visual arts, music (instrumental and voice), dance, theater and film production.

The Teen Artists Academy was established in 2006 at the Southwest Arts Center, offering artistic teens the opportunity to learn and experience art in an immersive four -week camp during the summer. In 2015, Fulton County Arts & Culture expanded programming to include underserved teens at the West End Performing Arts Center with instruction in film production and visual arts focused programming at the Aviation Community Cultural Center.

“Teen Artists Academy continues to grow as an innovative and an effective way to reach County youth” says Lionell Thomas, Director of Fulton County Arts & Culture “With many of the local school systems facing continued reductions of arts budgets and activities, the Fulton County Teen Artists Academy provides the community with continued arts education services.”

Students will present their culminating visual art exhibition at the Aviation Community Cultural Center, 8900 Aviation Circle, Atlanta, GA 30336, on Friday, June 24 from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. The 10th Annual Teen Artists Academy at Southwest Arts Center, 915 New Hope Road, Atlanta, GA 30331, closing production and exhibition will be held on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.